Custom Glass Shower Walls
|Custom Glass Shower Walls – When a lot of people enter their tile shower they rarely take into account the behind the scenes procedure that went into making that shower work correctly. Unfortunately some contractors uses this for their advantage to scrimp and save a couple bucks. I have to say most contractors are attempting to do a good job, even though some ones never learned the right procedure and why these processes are very important. The best strategy to find the best tile contractor is always to make them explain the theory. If they could let you know how it works behind the scenes, higher you will get a great job. If your mates refer somebody for your requirements it is still OK must these questions, in fact what can your mates really know in regards to the reasons for a tiled shower? They may are finding a contractor that’s nice and all to easy to help along with their brand new shower looks great, but if you dont want to fight mildew in a few months but for the next twenty years you are going to ask a couple of questions.
So let’s begin at the beginning and explain common language and theory of an tile shower. First you have what is called a shower pan. This is a completely waterproof section that covers the shower floor or higher the walls about 10″. This is either a hot mop, (the industry amount of layers of tar paper, hot tar, tar paper, hot tar and so on) or it’s rather a PVC membrane that’s folded into the corners well as over the dam. The most important part of this for you the homeowner to learn is of course it’s absolutely waterproof but additionally which it has what is called a sub-pitch. A proper sub-pitch is just a float of cement or similar product under the pan that produces a flow towards the drain along with the shower pan. This is important because, say as an example your shower pan is flat (no sub-pitch) water will traverse your grout making its way towards the pan while showering. If this water forms a puddle under your tile floor as an alternative to flowing towards the drain it is stagnant and soon will become mildew with your grout. With a sub-pitch the water that makes its way towards the pan will continue to circulate towards the drain always being substituted for water. It is much like the difference between a pond plus a creek.
Next you do have a vapor barrier that’s applied towards the walls directly towards the wood studs. This is ordinarily a paper with a tar held in the center. This paper keeps moisture from the walls. Why is this important? Not a lot of water penetrates the shower walls, nevertheless the substrate (the substrate is whatever surface your tile is stuck to, backer board, cement float, etc.) this surface can get moist. Moisture will move from substrate toward the lining wall, out over the grout and down towards the pan, without vapor barrier paper you will get small amounts of water into your wall cavity. So you say “why should I be worried about such a tiny amount of water”. The reason is when you’re getting a drop of water within your wall whenever your shower is utilized, those drops mount up as your wall does not have any ventilation for evaporation, so eventually the wood is obviously moist. Do you know what loves moist wood? Termites, they love these conditions since they never have to travel back towards the ground to acquire a drink, they could just keep eating. It would be as you and I never having to go towards the market. Think of how productive we might be in the event that were true.
Well that’s the theory of waterproofing behind your shower walls. When you adhere to these tips your shower has got the best potential for looking wonderful for many years, without extreme maintenance.
So in closing, I hope it’s been an interesting as well as understandable explanation of why an adequately waterproofed shower makes a difference. As a Contractor I welcome customers who’ll ask me these questions, it tells me they comprehend the value of an job congratulations.